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Context matters. Everyone should lurk instead of post their first week on a new site - that's any site, not just CM. That prevents the new person from coming off like a condescending bitch by jumping into the middle of a situation with no idea there's a situation to jump into. As for people who have been around and just like to troll - no, lurking does nothing except up their creep factor, and in some cases, they really didn't need any help with that to begin wtih.

Some people are just participators & some enjoy sitting on the side line I think. No error in that. Sometimes if I am in a bad mood I just like to read the posts or else I may say something that I shouldn't just because I'm a grouch that day.

I guess it's kind of like hanging out with a new group, lurking is like feeling them out? Lurking would save a lot of people on here hurt feelings and they would understand you need a thick skin to stick around long term.